Dr Crom
@doccrom.bsky.social
5.3K followers 610 following 3.9K posts
Classicist, archaeologist, sci-fi and horror nerd and, most importantly, ginger. Oh, and... "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn". #EdgyPedlar #AncientStuff
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doccrom.bsky.social
AncientBluesky 🏺- A favourite! The eponymous piece from the Tomb of the Blue Vase, Pompeii (HGE08). A stunning cameo glass amphora, with grape-harvesting Cupids: ca. 1st Century AD. #Pompeii #Archaeology

Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (13521). Link - mann-napoli.it/gli-oggetti-...
doccrom.bsky.social
#MosaicMonday - Discovered in 2003 at the submerged site of Riches Dunes, near Marseillan in France. The scene shows Apollo's punishment of the satyr, Marsyas. #Myth #Art 🏺

Image: Musée de l’Ephèbe et d’archéologie sous-marine du Cap d’Agde (n°2926). Link - musees-occitanie.fr/oeuvre/emble...
doccrom.bsky.social
#MosaicMonday - An interestingly themed mosaic panel from Antioch, dubbed the 'Peddler of Erotes': ca. 3rd Century AD. An old man seems to be out-and-about capturing Loves 'in the wild'. #Archaeology #Art 🏺

Image: Baltimore Museum of Art (1937.128). Link - collection.artbma.org/objects/2481...
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 13 October - in AD 54 the Emperor Claudius died. Tacitus (Annals 12.67.1) reports the popular version that he was poisoned by his fourth wife Agrippina with a dish of mushrooms. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC Claudius 80; ANS 1954.256.6. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman aureus: Head of Claudius, laureate, right. Reverse of a Roman aureus: Bust of Agrippina the Younger, draped, right, wearing a crown of corn-ears; hair in a long plait behind.
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 12 October - in 19 BC the Senate decreed a public holiday to mark the return of Augustus to Rome after 3 years in the eastern provinces, also pledging the altar to Fortuna Redux. #History 🏺

Image: RIC Augustus 53A; Münzkabinett Berlin (18206797). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman aureus: Head of Augustus, laureate, right. Reverse of a Roman aureus: Legend (FORT RED CAES AVG S P Q R) in three lines inscribed on rectangular altar.
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 12 October - in 19 BC the Senate decreed a public holiday to mark the return of Augustus to Rome after 3 years in the eastern provinces, also pledging the altar to Fortuna Redux. #History 🏺

Image: RIC Augustus 53A; Münzkabinett Berlin (18206797). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman aureus: Head of Augustus, laureate, right. Reverse of a Roman aureus: Legend (FORT RED CAES AVG S P Q R) in three lines inscribed on rectangular altar.
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#FrescoFriday - Currently on a bit of an ancient instrument kick, so here's Polyphemus seated on a rock as a dolphin-borne Cupid delivers a letter from Galatea, the object of our cithara-sporting Cyclops' affections. #Archaeology #Art 🏺

Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (8984)
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 10 October - in AD 19 Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, better known simply as Germanicus, died in suspicious circumstances. His early death ensured a lasting popularity, especially with the army. #History 🏺

Image: British Museum (1872,0605.1). Link - britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
Green basanite bust of Germanicus Caesar in military dress. The nose has been mutilated; there are further areas of damage on the chest and a cross has been cut into the forehead.
doccrom.bsky.social
#FrescoFriday - Currently on a bit of an ancient instrument kick, so here's Polyphemus seated on a rock as a dolphin-borne Cupid delivers a letter from Galatea, the object of our cithara-sporting Cyclops' affections. #Archaeology #Art 🏺

Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (8984)
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 10 October - in AD 19 Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, better known simply as Germanicus, died in suspicious circumstances. His early death ensured a lasting popularity, especially with the army. #History 🏺

Image: British Museum (1872,0605.1). Link - britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
Green basanite bust of Germanicus Caesar in military dress. The nose has been mutilated; there are further areas of damage on the chest and a cross has been cut into the forehead.
doccrom.bsky.social
Translation:

‘Aelius Barbarus, freedman of the Emperors, steward of this place, placed this gift to the goddess’

Aelius Barbarus describes himself as ‘vilicus’, suggesting that he managed an estate or enterprise for the imperial household, though the details of this property are unclear. (2/2)
doccrom.bsky.social
#ClassicsTober25 - Day 10: Hekate 🏺

Triple statuette of Diana-Hecate: ca. Late 2nd Century – 3rd Century AD.

“AELIVS · BARBARVS · AVGVSTORVM · LIBERTVS · VILICVS · HVIVS · LOCI · D(eae) · D(onum) · P(osuit) ·” (1/2)

Image: BM (1805,0703.14); CIL VI, 9089. Link - britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
Marble triple statue of Diana-Hecate, goddess of the sky and earth and guardian of the underworld. Latin inscription on the base.
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
ClassicsBluesky 🏺🧵

#LatinForTheDay – 9 October #Ovid

“quid iuvat in nudis hamata retundere tela
ossibus? ossa mihi nuda relinquit amor.
tot sine amore viri, tot sunt sine amore puellae!—
hinc tibi cum magna laude triumphus eat.
Roma, nisi inmensum vires promosset in orbem,...
Reposted by Dr Crom
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 9 October - in 28 BC Augustus dedicated the Temple of Palatine Apollo. One of Augustus’ most important buildings, Velleius Paterculus (2.81.3) claims he “spared no expense”. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC Augustus 271; ANS 1947.2.412. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman denarius: Head of Apollo, laureate, right. Reverse of a Roman denarius: Rostral column with prows of ships; on top, statue of Octavian.
doccrom.bsky.social
The Image at the head of this thread is 'The First Whisper of Love' by George Frederic Watts, ca. 1868–1886 (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool: WAG 2103).

Link - artuk.org/discover/art...

#LatinForTheDay #Ovid 🧵🏺
The First Whisper of Love | Art UK
The First Whisper of Love by George Frederic Watts (1817–1904), c.1868–1886, from Walker Art Gallery
artuk.org
doccrom.bsky.social
Here Ovid returns to the trope of 'militia amoris' as he seeks retirement from the campaigns of love. He draws upon a series of examples to suggest that when individuals have reached the appropriate point they may be legitimately 'released from service'!
doccrom.bsky.social
'They retire the warship, having dragged it into dry-dock;
And when the blade is laid aside, the waster takes its place.
It is time for me too – I who have served so often in the
Campaigns of my mistress – to live peacefully, my duty discharged.’
doccrom.bsky.social
'Rome, had she not stretched forth her strength over the limitless
Globe, would even now still be a hamlet of thatched huts.
The weary soldier retires to those fields he has well-earned;
The unharnessed horse is put out to pasture from the starting-gate;...
doccrom.bsky.social
‘What’s the point in your barbed arrows being blunted on
Bone? Love has left me bare bones and bugger all else!
There are so many lads without love, so many lasses too,
Let that lot be whence your gloriously grand triumph comes!...
doccrom.bsky.social
"...tutaque deposito poscitur ense rudis.
me quoque, qui totiens merui sub amore puellae,
defunctum placide vivere tempus erat.”

Ovid, Amores 2.9A.13-24
doccrom.bsky.social
"...stramineis esset nunc quoque tecta casis.
fessus in acceptos miles deducitur agros;
mittitur in saltus carcere liber equus;
longaque subductam celant navalia pinum,...
doccrom.bsky.social
ClassicsBluesky 🏺🧵

#LatinForTheDay – 9 October #Ovid

“quid iuvat in nudis hamata retundere tela
ossibus? ossa mihi nuda relinquit amor.
tot sine amore viri, tot sunt sine amore puellae!—
hinc tibi cum magna laude triumphus eat.
Roma, nisi inmensum vires promosset in orbem,...
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 9 October - in 28 BC Augustus dedicated the Temple of Palatine Apollo. One of Augustus’ most important buildings, Velleius Paterculus (2.81.3) claims he “spared no expense”. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC Augustus 271; ANS 1947.2.412. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....
Obverse of a Roman denarius: Head of Apollo, laureate, right. Reverse of a Roman denarius: Rostral column with prows of ships; on top, statue of Octavian.
doccrom.bsky.social
Thought it looked familiar!
doccrom.bsky.social
Is this one in Vienna?